MRTHs to transplant roadside trees

Bhubaneswar: As part of its green drive, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has initiated efforts to transplant big trees and use industrial wastes in road construction activities.

“We have already started two pilot projects in this regard in Haryana. The big trees will be uprooted and planted in other suitable location,” S N Das, Director General of Road Development and Special Secretary in the MTRHs, said during inauguration of 75th Indian Road Congress (IRC) here today.

He said only durable trees can be shifted from one location to another. “We have already inspected the particular machinery used in transplantation of big trees of 100 years old in Gujarat. Our officers are on the job,” Das said.

Stating that the ministry was working to reduce the number of trees being cut down for construction of roads, Das said plans were also made to include the expenditure towards transplantation of tree in the project cost of the road.

Inaugurating the 75th Annual Session of IRC, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “I would like to propose the IRC to meaningfully deliberate on utilisation of the industrial wastes such as fly ash, slag and plastic wastes in road construction. Every year Odisha generates more than 25 million tons of fly ash.”

Patnaik said productive use of industrial wastes can greatly contribute to reduction of pollution in manufacturing sector. Technocrats in road communication sector can play a significant role in constructive disposal of these materials.

Referring to Patnaik’s proposal to use industrial wastes in road construction, Das said the Centre has already issued a circular for use of fly ash in road construction.

Das said the Centre has already suggested to agencies like state PWDs, NHAI and BRO (border road organisation) to send proposal for constructing roads by use of industrial wastes like fly ash and steel plant slags.

“We have already taken up the matter with industries.

Tata Steel, SAIL, Jindal and other steel makers are suggested to give free of cost the slag for road construction. The companies are interested to develop roads with this technology in their respective areas,” Das said.

Das said the NHAI can use industrial wastes in one of the ten kilometre long road project on experimental basis.

They can also use 30 per cent fly ash in road construction, he said, adding that the ministry’s decision to go for concrete construction of roads as national highways will help provide jobs for youths in cement industries and reduce import cost of bitumen.